We should generate electricity by using renewable clean energy in order to reduce electricity bills, Oinam Nabakishore Singh, Chief Secretary, Government of Manipur said on Thursday.The Chief Secretary said the MANIREDA will be launching schemes to produce solar energy with 70 percent subsidy.

The cost to produce 1kva is about Rs one lakh.He further said he went to Germany with a team of officials to see the renewable energy production scenario.Germany produces 40,000 MW of solar energy and same amount of wind energy.He also lauded the Director of DIPR, Meghachandra Kongbam and staff members of DIPR for organizing such interactive programme.The State Cabinet in its meeting held on April 27, 1999 established Manipur Renewable Energy Development Agency (MANIREDA) to plan, develop and implement various renewable energy, he added.

L Manglem Singh, Director of MANIREDA said the Government of India has enhanced India’s solar power capacity target under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM) by five times, from initial 20,000 MW to 1,00,000 MW by 2022.The target will principally comprise of 40 GW Rooftop and 60 GW through Large and Medium Scale Grid Connected Solar Power Projects.

The total investment in setting up 100 GW will be around Rs 6,00,000 cr.In the first phase, the Government of India is providing Rs 15,050 crore as capital subsidy to promote solar capacity.Apart from this, solar power projects with investment of about Rs 90,000 crore would be developed using bundling mechanism with thermal power.The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Govt of India under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission has set a target of 105 MW capacity of solar power for Manipur, comprising of 50 MW from Rooftop systems and 55 MW from ground mounted and other mode of installations.

Further, the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) has also fixed target for RPO (Renewable Purchase Obligation) at 15 per cent of total energy requirement out of which 8 per cent should be from solar energy by 2022 .Considering the significance of solar energy, the State Government had also announced “The State Policy on Grid Integrated Rooftop SPV Power Plants” for the State which can be downloaded from www.mnre.com.

The Govt of India has allocated 55 MW capacity grid connected solar power plants (ground mounted) for the State.MANIREDA is planning for implementation of a five MW capacity demonstration grid connected solar power plant in Imphal West district.Under NABARD, capital subsidy scheme for installation of solar photovoltaic lighting systems subsidy support will be available only for six models of LED based lighting systems and six models of Solar Home systems (Solar Power Packs � DC/AC models).

For promotion of Small Hydro Power Project (SHP) , the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), is providing financial assistance for development of SHP projects upto 25 MW capacity.Manipur has adopted a policy on renewable sources for promoting generation of additional power supply through non-conventional energy sources.Under this policy, MANIREDA can develop Small Hydro Power Project(SHP) .

“Manipur Hydro Power Policy-2012” aims for development of hydro power projects in the State and MSPDCL, Manipur is the implementing department for Hydel projects above 5 MW capacity.Under this new policy, MANIREDA can take up SHP project having capacities upto 5 MW.

Under the Small Hydro incentives schemes of MNRE for identification of new SHP potential sites and preparation of Detailed Project Report(DPR) including Detailed Survey and Investigation (DSI), the Ministry will provide financial support of Rs 6 lakh for each project upto 1.00 MW capacity and Rs 10 lakh for each project with more than 1.00 MW and upto 25 MW capacity or actual cost incurred in this regard.

The objective of the programme on Small Wind Energy and Hybrid Systems (SWES) is to develop technology and promote applications of water pumping windmills and aero-generators/ wind-solar hybrid systems including promotion by setting up of demonstration projects in North Eastern region and J&K areas.25 SWES projects will be taken up in the North East region including Sikkim and J&K having capacity in the range of 10 kW on demonstration basis.

The Ministry is promoting multifaceted biomass gasifier based power plants for producing electricity using locally available biomass resources such as wood chips, rice husk, arhar stalks, cotton stalks and other agro-residues in rural areas.The programme envisages implementation of such projects with involvement of Independent Power Producers (IPPs), Energy Service Companies (ESCOs), industries, Co-operative, Panchayats, SHGs, NGOs, manufactures or entrepreneurs, industries, promoters and developers etc.MANIREDA has conducted Pre-feasibility Report and Detailed Survey and Investigation at various locations and identified 18 projects.

Five Pico projects with a total capacity of 25 KW and two Micro/Mini Hydel Projects with capacity of 425 kw have been completed.In co-ordination with National Institute of Wind Energy(NIWE), Chennai, MANIREDA has taken up Wind Resource Assessments.MANIREDA has so far distributed 8139 CFL based Solar lanterns to villagers and beneficiaries under demonstration/decentralised programme.Another 1000 LED solar lanterns have been distributed under Corporate Social Responsibility( CSR) programme to backward unelectrified villages.MANIREDA has so far implemented CFL based home lighting systems under demonstration programme to villagers/beneficiaries and meritorious students.

Home lighting systems were also installed at 73 police stations and Kwatha village.MANIREDA has installed 11WCFL based solar street lights at various locations for wide range of purposes.Altogether 525 off-grid solar power plants were installed by MANIREDA at various locations.Under JNNSM, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy(MNRE), Govt of India, MANIREDA is implementing 1400 W-LED based solar street lighting system in all the nine districts.

Proposals have been submitted for electrification of 13 remote villages, 25 kW Solar Power Plants (each) at Boys’ Hostel and Girls’ Hostel of National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology, implementation of small LED street lights in Imphal West Zilla Parishad areas, rooftop solar power plants for domestic and non-profit private institutions and electrification of remote tribal villages in Churachandpur, Chandel and Ukhrul using solar power packs of 200 Wp capacity module.

The state of Manipur has been endowed by nature with abundant Renewable Energy sources such as solar, hydel, wind energy etc.According to assessment carried out by the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE), Gurgaon, the State has total solar power potential of 10.63 GWp.